Travel Over Yellowstone’s East Entrance May Be Limited Due To Potential For Wet Snow Slides

(Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.) – Yellowstone’s East Entrance west of Cody is scheduled to open for the season at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, May 2.

However, deep snowpack above Sylvan Pass has the potential to release large, heavy, wet snow slides which can reach and cover the road, especially under sunny, warm conditions.

Yellowstone avalanche forecasters are closely monitoring the weather, snowpack, moisture, and all of the complex factors that go into determining the safety of travel across Sylvan Pass.

Changing weather conditions or warmer temperatures may result in temporary or extended closures of the East Entrance road. Closures may be implemented at any time with little or no advance notice.

A no stopping zone is in place through Sylvan Pass.

The potential for temporary closures of the East Entrance road could exist for several weeks until more snow melts and the snowpack stabilizes.

Travelers are encouraged to check the park’s 24-hour Road Report Hotline at 307-344-2117 for the latest updates before planning to travel between Cody and the Fishing Bridge area.

A similar situation occurred in 2008 when the road opened for the season on May 6 but was subsequently closed to all travel on May 11. It reopened to limited travel during periods of cool temperatures on May 22, and opened to unrestricted travel on June 6.